Looking to get fit but not seeing the right kind of results? There might just be something amiss. You may have spent a lot of time looking for the right gym and finding the right instructor. But there’s a good chance you’ve forgotten about the things you need to do from your end to get the most out of your workout.
Here are 7 simple but effective habits you should form to benefit as much as possible from your workout.
1. Enjoy Your Workout
While the traditional gym workout routines certainly work well, not everyone enjoys them. It’s a good idea to pick a workout you enjoy so that you get the most out of it and get fitter faster. Start exploring options you like and do a trial of each one every week to find the one you enjoy the most. You’re sure to see a difference in the way you feel after working out. Some people even take to hiking, rock climbing, and dancing instead of the standard workouts to get fit.
2. Set Fitness Goals
Fitness goals are yet another important part of workout regimes. If you’re looking to get fit, start by setting easy-to-achieve daily goals. Once you start achieving these, you can move on to weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Write these goals down on a piece of paper and put it up where you can see it every day to stay motivated.
3. Warm Up Before Starting Your Workout
Warming up before a vigorous workout optimizes performance and keeps your body safe from pulled muscles and injuries.1 Try dynamic warmup moves like walking lunges and toe touches to loosen and stretch your muscles. If your workout involves endurance and cardio training, you could perform the planned exercises at a lower intensity for a short while to warm up – for example, bodyweight squats before lifting weights or brisk walking before running.
4. Work Out Regularly
Irrespective of whether you have enough time on hand or not, don’t skip your workout. Exercising should be one of your top priorities if you intend to get fit. Working out regularly without finding excuses will take you closer to your fitness goals faster.
5. Rest At Frequent Intervals
While exercising regularly is important, resting often during your workout is just as vital. Exercising too much can cause your body to break down, leading to a number of health issues and long-term injuries. Indulge in yoga or meditation every now and then and get proper sleep every night to allow your body to recover well after working out.
6. Push Yourself
No matter what your fitness goal is, don’t be afraid to push yourself. This could even mean something as simple as adding an extra rep to every exercise in your workout each day. That said, it’s important you push yourself over time and not make drastic changes to your workout in a day. Listen to your body so that you don’t end up hurting yourself.
7. Eat Healthily
Eating a well-balanced diet is absolutely vital to gain maximum benefit from your workout. Stock up on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins (like fish, red meat, legumes, and eggs), and healthy fats (like nuts, avocados, and olive oil). Pre-workout snacks like bananas, nuts, and berries are also great additions. Also, remember that eating healthily doesn’t mean that you cut calories from your meals completely. It simply means that you need to consume the right amount. Speak to your fitness instructor to know how many calories you should consume in a day based on your fitness goals.
Make these habits a part of your workout regimen and you’re sure to notice a considerable difference in the way you feel after.
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